L’Hotel Paris

Oscar Wilde’s last words were supposedly “This wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. Either it goes or I do.” That wallpaper happens to be in a room of the smallest 5 star boutique hotel in Paris, located on the Left Bank in the lively Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood. L’Hotel, formerly known as Hôtel d’Alsace, is where Wilde lived during the last years of his life, except at the time it wasn’t a luxury hotel at all. In fact, Wilde never paid his last bill and it’s still displayed in Suite 16.

L’Hotel is exceptional for [already] obvious reasons. Despite being the smallest hotel in Paris (with only 20 rooms), it offers a wide range of facilities including a Hammam Pool, steam-room, bar and a Michelin Star restaurant. The hotel underwent an extensive renovation in 1967 and since then it’s been visited by Salvador Dali, Princess Grace, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Jim Morrison, and many more.

The location of L’Hotel is unbeatable; it’s just a 10 minute walk from the Louvre and Musee D’Orsay and 25 minutes to the Eiffel Tower by foot. Likewise, it is in close proximity to the St-Germain-des-Pres (Line 4) and Mabillion (Line 10).

Rooms, like the rest of L’Hotel, are eclectically styled with vibrant wallpaper and moldings, unique lamps and chandeliers, colorful carpets and amusing furnishings. The view is on Rue des Beaux-Arts, a typical Parisian street packed with small art galleries and a neighboring fine arts school. Perhaps my favorite part of the room is the bathroom, which makes you feel like you are transported to a luxurious baroque room with a standalone tub, marble counters, and a golden shower head.